Miracle Mud

At Lake Techirghiol on Romania’s Black Sea coast, people coat their bodies with the thick black mud, rich in organic matter, extracted from the bottom of the lake. The highly-concentrated sediment, hailed for its curative properties in the treatment of rheumatism, neurological disorders, skin ailments and for general well-being. is removed and returned to the lake in a closely-managed, sustainable cycle.

How does it work? Every morning, buckets of fresh mud are spread around the beach. Visitors cover all or parts of their bodies then stand in the sun for 20-30 minutes as it hardens on the skin, changing from shiny black to crackling light gray. Next, a swim in the saltwater lake gently and ecologically washes the mud off naturally recycling it.

A well-preserved custom, residents of the region have been coming here regularly their entire lives, while visitors from other parts of Romania and beyond come for a week or two, combining specialized treatments at the sanatorium with daily visits to the lake.